DANVILLE (WSLS 10) - Hope for Tomorrow Counseling could be a perfect candidate for the proposed Youth Services Task Force.
The task force was among the many proposals outlined at Tuesday night's Danville City Council work session, in which the police chief and the city manager discussed the plan they and several others have been working on for months in an effort to combat crime and violence in the city.
"Professionals from local youth serving agencies would work together to help provide wrap-around services to youth and children," Danville City Manager Ken Larking explained during his presentation.
The goal would be to prevent kids from being involved in crime.
During Hope for Tomorrow's open house and ribbon cutting on Wednesday, director Jim Herron told WSLS 10 that's a big part of what the organization does.
"A lot of services are offered after kids get in trouble or families are in crisis. Counseling often can prevent that if we can work with the family or the kids ahead of time," Herron stressed.
At Tuesday night's work session, Danville's police chief said more and more young people are becoming involved in crime in the city.
Herron said he would be interested in being part of the youth task force if it is eventually formed.
"We feel like we have some things, some services, some expertise that we can bring," Herron said.
If the task force is created, he said communication will be the key to success.
"Lots of times, things are duplicated. What one agency is learning and doing would benefit another agency," said Herron. "So, good communication, teamwork, working together in a therapeutic way."
City council members will now discuss all of the proposals and begin to implement them when and how they feel is best.